Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When students from Imperial reflect on Silwood Park, they picture a vibrant, enigmatic, and verdant campus brimming with distinctive flora and fauna, distinct from those at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In numerous respects, they are right—every depiction of Silwood Park is true!
As a voice for this lesser-known cohort at Imperial, I aim to showcase the student experience, events, and community at our natural parkland campus situated in Ascot, Berkshire.
An overview of Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor laboratory, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A brief inquiry on iNaturalist, an application for documenting and sharing biodiversity insights globally within an online network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus, while eBird has noted that 111 bird species have been identified thus far.
Remarkably, Silwood Park is also the setting for numerous long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the more notable studies conducted on-site.
Life as a student at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate scholars focused on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Most of us actively engage in various clubs based at Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our residence halls
- Book Club – holding regular discussions on intriguing books
- Gardening Club – overseeing the plots in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation initiatives for students on Silwood Park Campus.
Part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also take part in activities organized by clubs in South Kensington!
Casually, we enjoy clubs that focus on sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my favorite!), operating either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, there are numerous community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and oversees such happenings to cultivate a lively and stimulating student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our diverse community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and our annual Chinese New Year celebration, where we crafted dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. We’ve also hosted community-organized gatherings celebrating global events (like Carnival) or simply for the joy of celebrations.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood culture that the losers of the quiz set the next one, and I can proudly claim the title for the most quizzes set this year. Despite my frequent defeats due to my lack of trivia knowledge, there’s always great enjoyment with delightful company and a good pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Even though it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively bustle of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), existence at Silwood Park has never seemed boring or insufficient. In addition to the many events and activities, we enjoy a friendly and inclusive community of students from across the globe. We all share a love for nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more importantly, each other’s presence. We’re a close-knit group that relishes stargazing in the winter chill on the open field adjacent to our bar, observing the birds and mammals that visit our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my dear friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and bird